Volunteer Telford

Community Blood Pressure Project

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) if left untreated can lead to serious problems like heart attacks or strokes. Lifestyle changes and getting your blood pressure checked can help you to receive the right treatment, helping you to stay healthy. High blood pressure is very common. There are usually no signs or symptoms, so people don’t realise they have it without getting checked.

This is why helping people to get their blood pressure checked is so important.

Telford & Wrekin Council are currently running a Community Blood Pressure Project which attends local groups and services to offer free blood pressure checks to residents.

We are currently recruiting volunteer Blood Pressure Checkers who will attend events and clinics in local community settings to take local resident’s blood pressure.

Training and support

We will provide you with the training and support you need to take blood pressures, what the numbers / results mean and how to talk to people about reducing their risk of heart attacks and stoke health though lifestyle choices.

You will learn how to help to signpost people to local services. Volunteers are not expected to offer specialist or clinical advice.

Time commitment

Volunteers will be asked to volunteer at community venues as often, or as seldom as they would like. Sessions typically last 2 – 3 hours.

There is no pressure over the number of sessions you need to volunteer at, but it would be great if volunteers could commit to at least one session per month, so that they remain familiar with the blood pressure procedure.

What will I get out of being a Health Champion – Blood Pressure Checker?

Benefits to you include access to training, improving your own emotional and physical health, being involved in your local community, making new friends and gaining new skills.

To assist  and support staff in planning, delivery and evaluation of the service provided and other events as appropriate.

Facilitate planned play activities and encourage parents and carers to actively participate in their children’s play and learning.

Assist in the preparation of the venue.

Welcome and introduce parents, carers and children to the session (the ‘meet and greet’ role) and support with the conclusion of the session.

Assist in tidying up during and after the session and encourage parents, carers and children to be actively involved.

Assist in maintaining a safe environment at all times.

Inform Donnington Community Hub at the earliest opportunity, should they be unable to attend a session or event.

Work within the policies and procedures of Children and Family Early Help Telford & Wrekin Council, with particular reference to Safeguarding, Confidentiality, Equality and Diversity, and Health and Safety.

Our Telephone Chat Scheme supports people over 50 who may be struggling with loneliness and/or isolation.

The role is involves working from our home, calling clients once or more times a week at agreed times, to chat, listen and check that they’re coping OK.

Why we need your help:

The success of local engagement is based on developing good relationships in the local community – whether it’s with a school, club or council or with an influential leader in the community such as a mayor. 

With your enthusiasm and drive, you will work alongside your local Community Engagement Manager to identify potential opportunities, look to open up new avenues of support and develop beneficial partnerships through which we can promote our recruitment activities.

What we need you to do:

Research key individuals and organisations according to the priorities of the local community engagement team.

Initiate approaches to target audiences.

Assist with applications for support.

Keep your local community engagement team informed of approaches and outcomes.

Liaise with staff and other volunteers to ensure interest generated is followed up appropriately.

Update records on the RABC database.

What we can offer you:

The opportunity to gain fantastic skills and experience within a supportive and professional team.

Use of toolkits, marketing plans and PR templates.

Regular support and contact from your local Community Engagement Manager.

Valuable experience in community engagement.

What we ask of you:

To follow RABC’s policies and procedures.

To complete documentation relating to the role.

To provide the appropriate driver documentation if you choose to drive whilst volunteering.